Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Data Breach Affects 4.5 Million UCLA Health System Patients
Los Angeles Times: UCLA Health System Data Breach Affects 4.5 Million Patients
Marking another high-profile data breach, hackers broke into UCLA Health System's computer network and may have accessed sensitive information on as many as 4.5 million patients, hospital officials said. This cyberattack at UCLA comes on the heels of a major breach of federal employee records and a massive hack at health insurance giant Anthem Inc. affecting 80 million Americans this year. (Terhune, 7/17)
The Associated Press: Major Cyberattack Targets UCLA Hospital System
The FBI said in a statement that the agency was looking into the nature and scope of the cyberattack, as well as the person or group responsible. University of California President Janet Napolitano ordered an outside cybersecurity group to assess the computer security system throughout the UC system and look for potential vulnerabilities. (7/17)
Reuters: UCLA Health Says It Was Victim Of Criminal Cyber Attack
University of California (UCLA) Health, which runs four hospitals in the university's campuses, said its computer systems had been hacked and that data on as many as 4.5 million individuals could have been involved in the cyber attack. UCLA Health said on Friday it was working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and private computer forensic experts to look into the attack. (7/17)
NPR: UCLA Health Says 4.5M May Be Affected In Data Breach
UCLA Health says it was a victim of a criminal cyberattack that affected as many as 4.5 million people. UCLA Health, in a statement Friday, said attackers accessed parts of the computer network that contain personal and medical information, but there is no evidence they "actually accessed or acquired any individual's personal or medical information." The statement said UCLA Health is working with the FBI and has hired private computer forensic experts to help in the investigation. (Calamur, 7/17)
USA Today: Hack At UCLA Health Could Involve 4.5M People
However, there is "no evidence at this time that the cyber attacker actually accessed or acquired any individual's personal or medical information," said UCLA Health, a medical system that includes four hospitals and over 150 offices in southern California. That seems unlikely, said Stephen Newman, CTO of Damballa, an Atlanta-based computer security company. "Though UCLA Health says there was no evidence that personal and medical information was taken, time will tell for sure," he said. "Once criminals have unfettered access to a network, they have many ways to remove data." Health care networks are juicy targets for hackers, said Gavin Reid, vice president of threat intelligence for Lancope, an Alpharetta, Ga.-based company. (Weise, 7/19)
Los Angeles Times: UCLA Hack Q&A: What You Need To Know
Up to 4.5 million people may have had their medical information stolen in a recent cyberattack on the UCLA Health System. Here is what you need to know. (Shively, 7/17)
In related news -
Marketplace: Blue Cross Blue Shield Will Offer Credit Protection
Earlier this year, hackers broke into the database for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield – one of the nation’s largest insurers. The bad guys made off with personal information of nearly 80 million consumers. By the start of next year, Blue Cross Blue Shield plans will offer credit monitoring and fraud detection to most of their collective 106 million members. The company's senior vice president of operations and chief information officer, Doug Porter, says Blue Cross Blue Shield is making a major investment. (Gorenstein, 7/20)
